There are so many factors that come into play when we sing, there is a brain & emotional connection, technical preparation, and so many more things to consider. We at “One Voice Vocal Studio” have decided to look “Inside Singing” to help you grow as a singer, performer, and person. We firmly believe that each person as a unique experience and gift to share with others, “Someone, Somewhere needs your one voice.”

Get your home spruced up for days and nights spent indoors with family and friends

With those in cold climates preparing for snow, plus holidays and social gatherings everywhere you turn, December is a notoriously busy month. But with a little preparation (and some extra time carved out for finding your Zen), you can savor the best of the season, from winter walks to hot cocoa. Check off these tasks for a less hectic, more harmonious month.

Do you come home to a gloomy welcome when you open your front door? These solutions can lighten things up

The hall, the first space to greet us each time we return home, should ideally be a light-filled, welcoming room with conveniently located storage cleverly concealed from view. Sadly, however, our entrances are often narrow passages with little light and inadequate closet space.

There is hope, however. Check out these 10 ways, from structural alterations to decorative touches, to improve how you can both capture and reflect light in a hall of any size.

They’re not just for the holidays. You can use them to add warmth and sparkle to a room, a tabletop or a porch year-round

When I had my first apartment, the friend I shared it with and I each hung a strand of white string lights around our bedroom windows for the holidays. “The lights around my window just make me happy,” she said at the time, and it’s always stuck with me. We both wound up leaving them up for the rest of the year, and I think of this happy discovery whenever I pull out a set of string lights. Here are 10 ways to use them to up the happiness around your home.

Resourceful choices and an editing eye will give your kids the space they need to sleep, play and have fun

A shared sibling bedroom is often a necessity. One of the most challenging goals in designing a kids’ bedroom is finding enough space in one room for twice as many belongings — and for larger families, sometimes three times as many items. Where to put all the clothing, shoes, toys and school gear?

Read on for a few solutions to help you create the storage that your little ones need for a happy, functional room.

Is your home ready for holiday visits from friends and family? Here’s how to prepare for the invasion.

I’m lucky and have a guest suite always ready for holiday guests. But even with a dedicated space, preparing my home for the annual onslaught of friends and family takes time and forethought.

Some preparations for holiday guests take only a few minutes; some take a lot longer. My advice: Start preparing your home for the holidays now.

Prioritize

The day before guests arrive is no time to pull apart junk drawers and clean out linen closets. Declutter guest rooms and public areas — foyer, kitchen, living room, den, and dining room. Remove anything unnecessary from countertops, coffee tables, and ottomans; if it’s out of sight, keep it out of mind, for now.

If you run short of time, bag up the clutter and store it in car trunks, basements, and out-of-the-way closets. Sort and arrange after your guests depart.

Related: How to Get Rid of Stuff and Declutter Your Life

Safety

Light the way: Even though you can navigate your home blindfolded, your guests can’t. Make sure outside lights are working so they don’t trip on the way to your door. Put motion-activated night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms to ensure safe passage after the sun sets.

Child proofing: Ask parents to bring hardware that keeps their small ones safe, such as baby gates and cabinet locks. Transfer toxic cleaners and medicines from base to wall cabinets. Hide matches and lighters.

Fire prevention: If you didn’t freshen smoke detector batteries when you switched the clocks to Daylight Savings Time, change them now. After your guests arrive, run a quick fire drill: Make sure they can locate exits and fire extinguishers, and that they know how to open windows and doors.

Related: Outdoor Lighting for Curb Appeal and Safety

Entryway Upgrades

Your home’s foyer is the first place guests see, so make a good first impression.

Upgrade exterior entry doors or give old doors a new coat of paint. Polish and tighten door hardware, and oil hinges to prevent squeaks.

Remove scratches from hardwood floors, stairs, and wood railings. Place a small rug or welcome mat at the entrance to protect floors from mud and snow.

Clear out shoes, umbrellas, and other clutter.

Add extra hooks to walls so guests can hang coats and hats.

Add a storage bench where guests can remove boots and shoes.

Kitchen Prep

Your kitchen is command central during the holidays, so make sure it’s ready for guests and extra helpers.

To increase storage, install a pot rack to clear cooking items off countertops and ranges.

Move your coffee station into a family room so guests don’t crowd the kitchen when you’re trying to fix meals.

If you like to visit while you’re cooking, place extra stools and chairs around the perimeter of your kitchen so guests can set a spell.

Sleeping Arrangements

If you’ve got a guest room, replace the ceiling fixture with a ceiling fan and light combo, which helps guests customize their room temperature without fiddling with the thermostat for the entire house.

To carve sleeping space out of public areas, buy a folding screen or rolling bookcase, which will provide privacy for sleepers. Fold or roll it away in the morning.

Related: Holiday Cleaning: Tips for a Guest-Ready Home

Bathroom Storage

Bring toilet paper, towels, and toiletries out of hiding, and place them on open shelves so guests can find them easily.

If you don’t have enough wall space for shelves, place these items in open baskets around the bathroom.

Also, outfit each tub with a bath mat (to avoid falls) and each toilet with a plunger (to avoid embarrassment).